Italy - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently announced new plans that seek to bring sweeping changes to how foreign and religious students are to conduct themselves in the classroom.

While giving a speech to the youth wing of her nationalist conservative Brothers of Italy party on Sunday, Meloni revealed she was preparing two legislative proposals that aim to ban face coverings – particularly the Muslim burqa and niqab – in the country's schools.

Meloni argued that nobody, "in the name of a real or supposed tradition," should be able to "decide that a young woman must hide herself," per CBS News.

"Equality between men and women is not negotiable," she said. "It is not negotiable on our streets, and it is not negotiable in our schools."

Meloni also announced plans to limit the number of foreign students allowed in Italian classrooms.

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She further argued that immigrants who want to build a life in Italy "must learn our language, understand our culture, and respect our rules," claiming that this is "the only serious way to welcome them."

If approved by the Italian government, parliament would then need to pass it within 60 days for the plan to become law.

The prime minister's remarks come as she fights for re-election and is seeking ways to boost her popularity ahead of elections.

Meloni – whose administration recently became Italy's longest-serving uninterrupted government since World War II – also has ties with President Donald Trump, who has used his position in the US to target immigrant and Muslim communities.

According to the Fondazione ISMU research institute, around 930,000 students without citizenship are enrolled in the country's school – a number that has dropped by 4.5% within the last decade.